5 Natural, Safe, And Cruelty-Free Ways To Keep Mice Out Of The House

Mice are some of the craftiest critters around. When summer ends and the cooler weather starts to roll in, mice will find any which way to get into your house. Once there, they can cause damage to wiring, not to mention keep you up all night when you hear them scuttling through the walls. To keep mice out of your home without using harsh chemicals and mousetraps, consult these natural, safe, and cruelty-free methods first.

1. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is extremely strong, and mice hate the smell of it. To deter mice from coming inside your home, apply a generous amount of drops to some cotton balls, then place the cotton balls in any nooks and crannies you think mice may be getting in from.

2. Garlic

Another thing mice hate? Garlic. You can leave full cloves in any places you suspect mice might be getting in, or you can make a spray using water and chopped garlic (although this option may lead your entire house to smell like a garlic patch!).

3. Cloves

Mice despise the smell of cloves, and thankfully for us, we tend to think they smell pretty good! You can leave small jars of cloves along baseboards and near doors or windows to deter mice from making themselves at home.

4. Cayenne Pepper

If you haven’t already noticed, mice hate super pungent or spicy smells. Cayenne pepper is another thing they hate, so sprinkle some in mice-prone areas to send them packing.

5. Dryer Sheets

And last but not least, the smell of a dryer sheet will send a mouse running. They’re also super handy because you can stuff them in cracks and crevices where you suspect mice are getting in. Plus, they won’t stink up your home!

You’ve handled mice in the walls—but have you heard of rats coming up from the toilet?